The Gold Coast Bulletin

PAKISTAN SUICIDE BLAST PUTS ELECTION RESULT AT RISK

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A SUICIDE bomber on a motorcycle rammed into people waiting outside a busy polling station in the Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least 31 and casting a dark shadow on what was to be a historic day for the country as Pakistanis cast ballots to elect their third consecutiv­e civilian government.

The attack in Quetta, the capital of Baluchista­n province, underscore­d the difficulti­es this majority Muslim nation faces on its wobbly journey toward sustained democracy. The bombing also wounded 35 people, with several reported to be in critical condition, raising concerns the death toll could rise further, said hospital official Jaffar Kakar, a doctor.

As polls closed, Pakistan’s Election Commission spokesman Nadeem Qasim said the commission had issued a notice to aspiring prime minister Imran Khan saying his vote could be disqualifi­ed after he cast his ballot in front of television cameras, violating “the secrecy of the ballot paper”.

Mr Qasim said Mr Khan violated Pakistan’s constituti­on, which guarantees the secrecy of the ballot. Images showed a smiling Mr Khan with his ballot paper laid out in front of him as he marked the ballot.

 ?? Picture: AFP ?? Pakistani men transport injured blast victims at a hospital after a suicide attack near a polling station in Quetta.
Picture: AFP Pakistani men transport injured blast victims at a hospital after a suicide attack near a polling station in Quetta.

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